Smart audio settings

ABSTRACT

Embodiments described herein provide for smart configuration of audio settings for a playback device. According to an embodiment, while a playback device is a part of a first zone group that includes the playback device and at least one first playback device, the playback device applies a first audio setting. The embodiment also includes the playback device joining a second zone group that includes the playback device and at least one second playback device. The embodiment further includes the playback device applying a second audio setting based on an audio content profile corresponding to the second zone group.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/919,309, titled “Smart Audio Settings,” filed Mar. 13, 2018, U.S.application Ser. No. 15/919,309 is a continuation of U.S. applicationSer. No. 14/677,541, titled “Smart Audio Settings, filed Apr. 2, 2015,and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,916,126 on Mar. 13, 2018; U.S. applicationSer. No. 14/677,541 is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/539,261, titled “Smart Audio Settings,” filed Jun. 29, 2012, andissued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,031,244 on May 12, 2015. The entire contentsof U.S. application Ser. Nos. 15/919,309; 14/677,541; and 13/539,216 areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure is related to consumer goods and, more particularly, tosystems, products, features, services, and other items directed to mediaplayback or some aspect thereof.

BACKGROUND

Technological advancements have increased the accessibility of musiccontent, as well as other types of media, such as television content,movies, and interactive content. For example, a user can access audio,video, or both audio and video content over the Internet through anonline store, an Internet radio station, a music service, a movieservice, and so on, in addition to the more traditional avenues ofaccessing audio and video content. Demand for audio, video, and bothaudio and video content inside and outside of the home continues toincrease.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features, aspects, and advantages of the presently disclosed technologyare better understood with regard to the following description, appendedclaims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows an illustration of an example system in which embodimentsof the methods and apparatus disclosed herein can be implemented;

FIG. 2A shows an illustration of an example zone player having abuilt-in amplifier and speakers;

FIG. 2B shows an illustration of an example zone player having abuilt-in amplifier and connected to external speakers;

FIG. 2C shows an illustration of an example zone player connected to anA/V receiver and speakers;

FIG. 3 shows an illustration of an example controller;

FIG. 4 shows an internal functional block diagram of an example zoneplayer;

FIG. 5 shows an internal functional block diagram of an examplecontroller;

FIG. 6 shows an example ad-hoc playback network;

FIG. 7 shows a system including a plurality of networks including acloud-based network and at least one local playback network;

FIG. 8 shows an illustrative example flow diagram according to anembodiment;

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow diagram of an example method where a systemprovides suggested audio settings based on a “representative profile;”

FIG. 10 illustrates a flow diagram of an example method to automaticallyreplicate audio settings to other playback devices on the playbacknetwork; and

FIG. 11 illustrates a flow diagram of an example method to automaticallyadjust the audio settings based on an audio profile.

In addition, the drawings are for the purpose of illustrating exampleembodiments, but it is understood that the present disclosure is notlimited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I. Overview

Listening to audio content out loud can be a social activity thatinvolves family, friends, or both. Audio content may include, forinstance, music, talk radio, books, audio from television, and otheraudible material. For example, in a household, people may play music outloud at parties and other social gatherings. In such an environment,people may wish to play the music in one listening zone or multiplelistening zones simultaneously, such that the music in each listeningzone may be synchronized, without audible echoes or glitches. Such anexperience may be further enriched when people, for example, browseaudio sources, add a music track to a playback queue, learn more about amusic track (such as track title or track artists), or view what musictrack is next in the playback queue.

Listening to audio content out loud can also be an individualexperience. For example, an individual may play music out loud forthemselves in the morning before work, in the evening during dinner, orat other times throughout the day at home, work, or on the road. Forthese individual experiences, the individual may choose to either useheadphones or limit the out loud playback of audio content to a singlezone or area.

Combining signal processing techniques with audio playback equipmentthat takes advantage of the signal processing can often enhance thelistening experience. For example, multi-channel audio, when reproducedappropriately, can create an experience where sounds appear to be comingfrom sources placed throughout the listening room as the audio recordingwas originally intended. As the number of channels increase, theexperience can be enhanced such that eventually you can get athree-dimensional effect. In another example, audio settings can beadjusted to enhance the listening experience. For example, the low- orhigh-frequency emphasis can be adjusted to satisfy a user's listeningpreference. In another example, the balance can be adjusted for theconfiguration of the playback device in the listening environment.

Example systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacturedisclosed and described herein provide for smart configuration of audiosettings for a playback device. For example, when a user adjusts theaudio settings of a playback device during the playback of a song ortrack, the user is warned if the currently playing song is “atypical”relative to other audio content. In some embodiments, an audio profileis determined for a plurality of songs to determine a “representative”profile. An audio profile can also be determined for the currentlyplaying song (or about to be played song), and compared with the“representative” profile to determine if the currently playing song (orabout to be played song) is similar (or substantially similar). If thecurrently playing song is “atypical” (e.g., the song does not fit therepresentative profile), then an indication is provided to the user. Insome embodiments, the indication warns the user that he or she ischanging an audio setting while listening to an “atypical” song ortrack. This warning is particularly useful when, for example, the usermakes an audio adjustment to the system while listening to a song thatis not representative of the type of music for which the new settingwill most generally apply. For instance, a user might increase thesystem's bass level while listening to a song with little bass content,and thereafter experience annoyingly high bass levels (until it ischanged by the user again).

Example systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacturedisclosed and described herein provide for smart configuration of audiosettings for a playback device as audio content changes. For example,the audio settings for a playback device are dynamically adjusted basedon an audio profile of the content as different songs or tracks areplayed. In some embodiments, an audio profile is determined for aplurality of songs to determine one or more “representative” profilesfor the songs. As a song is played, or is prepared to play next, theaudio profile is examined, or determined if it is not alreadydetermined, and the audio settings are adjusted for the audio profile sothat the song is played with the appropriate settings.

Example systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacturedisclosed and described herein provide for smart configuration of audiosettings for a playback device in a playback network with multipledevices. In some embodiments, when the audio settings are adjusted on aplayback device, the settings are replicated to similar devices on theplayback network.

Many other embodiments are provided and described herein.

II. An Example Operating Environment

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals can refer to likeparts throughout the figures, FIG. 1 shows an example system 100 inwhich one or more embodiments disclosed herein can be practiced orimplemented.

By way of illustration, system 100 represents a home presentlyconfigured with multiple zones, though the home could have beenconfigured with only one zone. Each zone in the home, for example, mayrepresent a different room or space, such as an office, bathroom,bedroom, kitchen, dining room, family room, home theater room, utilityor laundry room, and patio. A single zone might also include multiplerooms if so configured. One or more of zone players 102-124 are shown ineach respective zone of the home. A zone player 102-124, also referredto as a playback device, multimedia unit, speaker, player, and so on,provides audio, video, and/or audiovisual output. Controller 130provides control to system 100. Controller 130 may be fixed to a zone,or alternatively, mobile such that it can be moved about the zones.System 100 may also include more than one controller 130. System 100illustrates an example whole house audio system, though it is understoodthat the technology described herein is not limited to its particularplace of application or to an expansive system like a whole house audiosystem 100 of FIG. 1.

a. Example Zone Players

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C show example types of zone players. Zone players200, 202, and 204 of FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, respectively, can correspondto any of the zone players 102-124 of FIG. 1, for example. In someembodiments, audio is reproduced using only a single zone player, suchas by a full-range player. In some embodiments, audio is reproducedusing two or more zone players, such as by using a combination offull-range players or a combination of full-range and specializedplayers. In some embodiments, zone players 200-204 may also be referredto as a “smart speaker,” because they contain processing capabilitiesbeyond the reproduction of audio, more of which is described below.

FIG. 2A illustrates zone player 200 that includes sound producingequipment 208 capable of reproducing full-range sound. The sound maycome from an audio signal that is received and processed by zone player200 over a wired or wireless data network. Sound producing equipment 208includes one or more built-in amplifiers and one or more speakers. Abuilt-in amplifier is described more below with respect to FIG. 4. Aspeaker or acoustic transducer can include, for example, any of atweeter, a mid-range driver, a low-range driver, and a subwoofer. Insome embodiments, zone player 200 can be statically or dynamicallyconfigured to play stereophonic audio, monaural audio, or both. In someembodiments, zone player 200 is configured to reproduce a subset offull-range sound, such as when zone player 200 is grouped with otherzone players to play stereophonic audio, monaural audio, and/or surroundaudio or when the audio content received by zone player 200 is less thanfull-range.

FIG. 2B illustrates zone player 202 that includes a built-in amplifierto power a set of detached speakers 210. A detached speaker can include,for example, any type of loudspeaker. Zone player 202 may be configuredto power one, two, or more separate loudspeakers. Zone player 202 may beconfigured to communicate an audio signal (e.g., right and left channelaudio or more channels depending on its configuration) to the detachedspeakers 210 via a wired path.

FIG. 2C illustrates zone player 204 that does not include a built-inamplifier, but is configured to communicate an audio signal, receivedover a data network, to an audio (or “audio/video”) receiver 214 withbuilt-in amplification.

Referring back to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, one, some, or all of thezone players 102 to 124 can retrieve audio directly from a source. Forexample, a zone player may contain a playlist or queue of audio items tobe played (also referred to herein as a “playback queue”). Each item inthe queue may comprise a uniform resource identifier (URI) or some otheridentifier. The URI or identifier can point the zone player to the audiosource. The source might be found on the Internet (e.g., the cloud),locally from another device over data network 128, the controller 130,stored on the zone player itself, or from an audio source communicatingdirectly to the zone player. In some embodiments, the zone player canreproduce the audio itself, send it to another zone player forreproduction, or both where the audio is played by the zone player andone or more additional zone players in synchrony. In some embodiments,the zone player can play a first audio content (or not play at all),while sending a second, different audio content to another zoneplayer(s) for reproduction.

By way of illustration, SONOS, Inc. of Santa Barbara, Calif. presentlyoffers for sale zone players referred to as a “PLAY:5,” “PLAY:3,”“CONNECT:AMP,” “CONNECT,” and “SUB.” Any other past, present, and/orfuture zone players can additionally or alternatively be used toimplement the zone players of example embodiments disclosed herein.Additionally, it is understood that a zone player is not limited to theparticular examples illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C or to the SONOSproduct offerings. For example, a zone player may include a wired orwireless headphone. In yet another example, a zone player might includea sound bar for television. In yet another example, a zone player caninclude or interact with a docking station for an Apple IPOD™ or similardevice.

b. Example Controllers

FIG. 3 illustrates an example wireless controller 300 in docking station302. By way of illustration, controller 300 can correspond tocontrolling device 130 of FIG. 1. Docking station 302, if provided, maybe used to charge a battery of controller 300. In some embodiments,controller 300 is provided with a touch screen 304 that allows a user tointeract through touch with the controller 300, for example, to retrieveand navigate a playlist of audio items, control operations of one ormore zone players, and provide overall control of the systemconfiguration 100. In certain embodiments, any number of controllers canbe used to control the system configuration 100. In some embodiments,there can be a limit set on the number of controllers that can controlthe system configuration 100. The controllers might be wireless likewireless controller 300 or wired to data network 128.

In some embodiments, if more than one controller is used in system 100,then each controller may be coordinated to display common content, andmay all be dynamically updated to indicate changes made from a singlecontroller. Coordination can occur, for instance, by a controllerperiodically requesting a state variable directly or indirectly from oneor more zone players; the state variable may provide information aboutsystem 100, such as current zone group configuration, what is playing inone or more zones, volume levels, and other items of interest. The statevariable may be passed around on data network 128 between zone players(and controllers, if so desired) as needed or as often as programmed.

In addition, an application running on any network-enabled portabledevice, such as an IPHONE™ IPAD™ ANDROID™ powered phone, or any othersmart phone or network-enabled device can be used as controller 130. Anapplication running on a laptop or desktop personal computer (PC) orMac™ can also be used as controller 130. Such controllers may connect tosystem 100 through an interface with data network 128, a zone player, awireless router, or using some other configured connection path. Examplecontrollers offered by SONOS, Inc. of Santa Barbara, Calif. include a“Controller 200,” “SONOS® CONTROL,” “SONOS® Controller for iPhone,”“SONOS® Controller for IPAD™,” “SONOS® Controller for ANDROID™, “SONOS®Controller for MAC™ or PC.”

c. Example Data Connection

Zone players 102 to 124 of FIG. 1 are coupled directly or indirectly toa data network, such as data network 128. Controller 130 may also becoupled directly or indirectly to data network 128 or individual zoneplayers. Data network 128 is represented by an octagon in the figure tostand out from other representative components. While data network 128is shown in a single location, it is understood that such a network isdistributed in and around system 100. Particularly, data network 128 canbe a wired network, a wireless network, or a combination of both wiredand wireless networks. In some embodiments, one or more of the zoneplayers 102-124 are wirelessly coupled to data network 128 based on aproprietary mesh network. In some embodiments, one or more of the zoneplayers 102-124 are wirelessly coupled to data network 128 using anon-mesh topology. In some embodiments, one or more of the zone players102-124 are coupled via a wire to data network 128 using Ethernet orsimilar technology. In addition to the one or more zone players 102-124connecting to data network 128, data network 128 can further allowaccess to a wide area network, such as the Internet.

In some embodiments, connecting any of the zone players 102-124, or someother connecting device, to a broadband router, can create data network128. Other zone players 102-124 can then be added wired or wirelessly tothe data network 128. For example, a zone player (e.g., any of zoneplayers 102-124) can be added to the system configuration 100 by simplypressing a button on the zone player itself (or perform some otheraction), which enables a connection to be made to data network 128. Thebroadband router can be connected to an Internet Service Provider (ISP),for example. The broadband router can be used to form another datanetwork within the system configuration 100, which can be used in otherapplications (e.g., web surfing). Data network 128 can also be used inother applications, if so programmed. An example, second network mayimplement SONOSNET™ protocol, developed by SONOS, Inc. of Santa Barbara.SONOSNET™ represents a secure, AES-encrypted, peer-to-peer wireless meshnetwork. Alternatively, in certain embodiments, the data network 128 isthe same network, such as a traditional wired or wireless network, usedfor other applications in the household.

d. Example Zone Configurations

A particular zone can contain one or more zone players. For example, thefamily room of FIG. 1 contains two zone players 106 and 108, while thekitchen is shown with one zone player 102. In another example, the hometheater room contains additional zone players to play audio from a 5.1channel or greater audio source (e.g., a movie encoded with 5.1 orgreater audio channels). In some embodiments, one can position a zoneplayer in a room or space and assign the zone player to a new orexisting zone via controller 130. As such, zones may be created,combined with another zone, removed, and given a specific name (e.g.,“Kitchen”), if so desired and programmed to do so with controller 130.Moreover, in some embodiments, zone configurations may be dynamicallychanged even after being configured using controller 130 or some othermechanism.

In some embodiments, if a zone contains two or more zone players, suchas the two zone players 106 and 108 in the family room, then the twozone players 106 and 108 can be configured to play the same audio sourcein synchrony, or the two zone players 106 and 108 can be paired to playtwo separate sounds in left and right channels, for example. In otherwords, the stereo effects of a sound can be reproduced or enhancedthrough the two zone players 106 and 108, one for the left sound and theother for the right sound. In certain embodiments, paired zone players(also referred to as “bonded zone players”) can play audio in synchronywith other zone players in the same or different zones.

In some embodiments, two or more zone players can be sonicallyconsolidated to form a single, consolidated zone player. A consolidatedzone player (though made up of multiple, separate devices) can beconfigured to process and reproduce sound differently than anunconsolidated zone player or zone players that are paired, because aconsolidated zone player will have additional speaker drivers from whichsound can be passed. The consolidated zone player can further be pairedwith a single zone player or yet another consolidated zone player. Eachplayback device of a consolidated playback device can be set in aconsolidated mode, for example.

According to some embodiments, one can continue to do any of: group,consolidate, and pair zone players, for example, until a desiredconfiguration is complete. The actions of grouping, consolidation, andpairing are preferably performed through a control interface, such asusing controller 130, and not by physically connecting and re-connectingspeaker wire, for example, to individual, discrete speakers to createdifferent configurations. As such, certain embodiments described hereinprovide a more flexible and dynamic platform through which soundreproduction can be offered to the end-user.

e. Example Audio Sources

In some embodiments, each zone can play from the same audio source asanother zone or each zone can play from a different audio source. Forexample, someone can be grilling on the patio and listening to jazzmusic via zone player 124, while someone is preparing food in thekitchen and listening to classical music via zone player 102. Further,someone can be in the office listening to the same jazz music via zoneplayer 110 that is playing on the patio via zone player 124. In someembodiments, the jazz music played via zone players 110 and 124 isplayed in synchrony. Synchronizing playback amongst zones allows forsomeone to pass through zones while seamlessly (or substantiallyseamlessly) listening to the audio. Further, zones can be put into a“party mode” such that all associated zones will play audio insynchrony.

Sources of audio content to be played by zone players 102-124 arenumerous. In some embodiments, music on a zone player itself may beaccessed and a played. In some embodiments, music from a personallibrary stored on a computer or networked-attached storage (NAS) may beaccessed via the data network 128 and played. In some embodiments,Internet radio stations, shows, and podcasts can be accessed via thedata network 128. Music or cloud services that let a user stream and/ordownload music and audio content can be accessed via the data network128. Further, music can be obtained from traditional sources, such as aturntable or CD player, via a line-in connection to a zone player, forexample. Audio content can also be accessed using a different protocol,such as AIRPLAY™, which is a wireless technology by Apple, Inc., forexample. Audio content received from one or more sources can be sharedamongst the zone players 102 to 124 via data network 128 and/orcontroller 130. The above-disclosed sources of audio content arereferred to herein as network-based audio information sources. However,network-based audio information sources are not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the example home theater zone players 116, 118, 120are coupled to an audio information source such as a television 132. Insome examples, the television 132 is used as a source of audio for thehome theater zone players 116, 118, 120, while in other examples audioinformation from the television 132 can be shared with any of the zoneplayers 102-124 in the audio system 100.

III. Zone Players

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown an example block diagram of azone player 400 in accordance with an embodiment. Zone player 400includes a network interface 402, a processor 408, a memory 410, anaudio processing component 412, one or more modules 414, an audioamplifier 416, and a speaker unit 418 coupled to the audio amplifier416. FIG. 2A shows an example illustration of such a zone player. Othertypes of zone players may not include the speaker unit 418 (e.g., suchas shown in FIG. 2B) or the audio amplifier 416 (e.g., such as shown inFIG. 2C). Further, it is contemplated that the zone player 400 can beintegrated into another component. For example, the zone player 400could be constructed as part of a television, lighting, or some otherdevice for indoor or outdoor use.

In some embodiments, network interface 402 facilitates a data flowbetween zone player 400 and other devices on a data network 128. In someembodiments, in addition to getting audio from another zone player ordevice on data network 128, zone player 400 may access audio directlyfrom the audio source, such as over a wide area network or on the localnetwork. In some embodiments, the network interface 402 can furtherhandle the address part of each packet so that it gets to the rightdestination or intercepts packets destined for the zone player 400.Accordingly, in certain embodiments, each of the packets includes anInternet Protocol (IP)-based source address as well as an IP-baseddestination address.

In some embodiments, network interface 402 can include one or both of awireless interface 404 and a wired interface 406. The wireless interface404, also referred to as a radio frequency (RF) interface, providesnetwork interface functions for the zone player 400 to wirelesslycommunicate with other devices (e.g., other zone player(s), speaker(s),receiver(s), component(s) associated with the data network 128, and soon) in accordance with a communication protocol (e.g., any wirelessstandard including IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, or 802.15).Wireless interface 404 may include one or more radios. To receivewireless signals and to provide the wireless signals to the wirelessinterface 404 and to transmit wireless signals, the zone player 400includes one or more antennas 420. The wired interface 406 providesnetwork interface functions for the zone player 400 to communicate overa wire with other devices in accordance with a communication protocol(e.g., IEEE 802.3). In some embodiments, a zone player includes both ofthe interfaces 404 and 406. In some embodiments, a zone player 400includes only the wireless interface 404 or the wired interface 406.

In some embodiments, the processor 408 is a clock-driven electronicdevice that is configured to process input data according toinstructions stored in memory 410. The memory 410 is data storage thatcan be loaded with one or more software module(s) 414, which can beexecuted by the processor 408 to achieve certain tasks. In theillustrated embodiment, the memory 410 is a tangible machine-readablemedium storing instructions that can be executed by the processor 408.In some embodiments, a task might be for the zone player 400 to retrieveaudio data from another zone player or a device on a network (e.g.,using a uniform resource locator (URL) or some other identifier). Insome embodiments, a task may be for the zone player 400 to send audiodata to another zone player or device on a network. In some embodiments,a task may be for the zone player 400 to synchronize playback of audiowith one or more additional zone players. In some embodiments, a taskmay be to pair the zone player 400 with one or more zone players tocreate a multi-channel audio environment. Additional or alternativetasks can be achieved via the one or more software module(s) 414 and theprocessor 408.

The audio processing component 412 can include one or moredigital-to-analog converters (DAC), an audio preprocessing component, anaudio enhancement component or a digital signal processor, and so on. Insome embodiments, the audio processing component 412 may be part ofprocessor 408. In some embodiments, the audio that is retrieved via thenetwork interface 402 is processed and/or intentionally altered by theaudio processing component 412. Further, the audio processing component412 can produce analog audio signals. The processed analog audio signalsare then provided to the audio amplifier 416 for play back throughspeakers 418. In addition, the audio processing component 412 caninclude circuitry to process analog or digital signals as inputs to playfrom zone player 400, send to another zone player on a network, or bothplay and send to another zone player on the network. An example inputincludes a line-in connection (e.g., an auto-detecting 3.5 mm audioline-in connection).

The audio amplifier 416 is a device(s) that amplifies audio signals to alevel for driving one or more speakers 418. The one or more speakers 418can include an individual transducer (e.g., a “driver”) or a completespeaker system that includes an enclosure including one or more drivers.A particular driver can be a subwoofer (e.g., for low frequencies), amid-range driver (e.g., for middle frequencies), and a tweeter (e.g.,for high frequencies), for example. An enclosure can be sealed orported, for example. Each transducer may be driven by its own individualamplifier.

A commercial example, presently known as the PLAY:5, is a zone playerwith a built-in amplifier and speakers that is capable of retrievingaudio directly from the source, such as on the Internet or on the localnetwork, for example. In particular, the PLAY:5 is a five-amp,five-driver speaker system that includes two tweeters, two mid-rangedrivers, and one woofer. When playing audio content via the PLAY:5, theleft audio data of a track is sent out of the left tweeter and leftmid-range driver, the right audio data of a track is sent out of theright tweeter and the right mid-range driver, and mono bass is sent outof the subwoofer. Further, both mid-range drivers and both tweeters havethe same equalization (or substantially the same equalization). That is,they are both sent the same frequencies, but from different channels ofaudio. Audio from Internet radio stations, online music and videoservices, downloaded music, analog audio inputs, television, DVD, and soon, can be played from the PLAY:5.

IV. Controller

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown an example block diagram forcontroller 500, which can correspond to the controlling device 130 inFIG. 1. Controller 500 can be used to facilitate the control ofmulti-media applications, automation and others in a system. Inparticular, the controller 500 may be configured to facilitate aselection of a plurality of audio sources available on the network andenable control of one or more zone players (e.g., the zone players102-124 in FIG. 1) through a wireless or wired network interface 508.According to one embodiment, the wireless communications is based on anindustry standard (e.g., infrared, radio, wireless standards includingIEEE 802.11a, 802.11b 802.11g, 802.11n, or 802.15, and so on). Further,when a particular audio is being accessed via the controller 500 orbeing played via a zone player, a picture (e.g., album art) or any otherdata, associated with the audio and/or audio source can be transmittedfrom a zone player or other electronic device to controller 500 fordisplay.

Controller 500 is provided with a screen 502 and an input interface 514that allows a user to interact with the controller 500, for example, tonavigate a playlist of many multimedia items and to control operationsof one or more zone players. The screen 502 on the controller 500 can bean LCD screen, for example. The screen 500 communicates with and iscommanded by a screen driver 504 that is controlled by a microcontroller(e.g., a processor) 506. The memory 510 can be loaded with one or moreapplication modules 512 that can be executed by the microcontroller 506with or without a user input via the user interface 514 to achievecertain tasks. In some embodiments, an application module 512 isconfigured to facilitate grouping a number of selected zone players intoa zone group and synchronizing the zone players for audio play back. Insome embodiments, an application module 512 is configured to control theaudio sounds (e.g., volume) of the zone players in a zone group. Inoperation, when the microcontroller 506 executes one or more of theapplication modules 512, the screen driver 504 generates control signalsto drive the screen 502 to display an application specific userinterface accordingly.

The controller 500 includes a network interface 508 that facilitateswired or wireless communication with a zone player. In some embodiments,the commands such as volume control and audio playback synchronizationare sent via the network interface 508. In some embodiments, a savedzone group configuration is transmitted between a zone player and acontroller via the network interface 508. The controller 500 can controlone or more zone players, such as 102-124 of FIG. 1. There can be morethan one controller for a particular system, and each controller mayshare common information with another controller, or retrieve the commoninformation from a zone player, if such a zone player storesconfiguration data (e.g., such as a state variable). Further, acontroller can be integrated into a zone player.

It should be noted that other network-enabled devices such as anIPHONE®, IPAD® or any other smart phone or network-enabled device (e.g.,a networked computer such as a PC or Mac®) can also be used as acontroller to interact or control zone players in a particularenvironment. In some embodiments, a software application or upgrade canbe downloaded onto a network-enabled device to perform the functionsdescribed herein.

In certain embodiments, a user can create a zone group (also referred toas a bonded zone) including at least two zone players from thecontroller 500. The zone players in the zone group can play audio in asynchronized fashion, such that all of the zone players in the zonegroup play back an identical audio source or a list of identical audiosources in a synchronized manner such that no (or substantially no)audible delays or hiccups are to be heard. Similarly, in someembodiments, when a user increases the audio volume of the group fromthe controller 500, the signals or data of increasing the audio volumefor the group are sent to one of the zone players and causes other zoneplayers in the group to be increased together in volume.

A user via the controller 500 can group zone players into a zone groupby activating a “Link Zones” or “Add Zone” soft button, or de-grouping azone group by activating an “Unlink Zones” or “Drop Zone” button. Forexample, one mechanism for ‘joining’ zone players together for audioplay back is to link a number of zone players together to form a group.To link a number of zone players together, a user can manually link eachzone player or room one after the other. For example, assume that thereis a multi-zone system that includes the following zones: Bathroom,Bedroom, Den, Dining Room, Family Room, and Foyer.

In certain embodiments, a user can link any number of the six zoneplayers, for example, by starting with a single zone and then manuallylinking each zone to that zone.

In certain embodiments, a set of zones can be dynamically linkedtogether using a command to create a zone scene or theme (subsequent tofirst creating the zone scene). For instance, a “Morning” zone scenecommand can link the Bedroom, Office, and Kitchen zones together in oneaction. Without this single command, the user would manually andindividually link each zone. The single command may include a mouseclick, a double mouse click, a button press, a gesture, or some otherprogrammed action. Other kinds of zone scenes can be programmed.

In certain embodiments, a zone scene can be triggered based on time(e.g., an alarm clock function). For instance, a zone scene can be setto apply at 8:00 am. The system can link appropriate zonesautomatically, set specific music to play, and then stop the music aftera defined duration. Although any particular zone can be triggered to an“On” or “Off” state based on time, for example, a zone scene enables anyzone(s) linked to the scene to play a predefined audio (e.g., afavorable song, a predefined playlist) at a specific time and/or for aspecific duration. If, for any reason, the scheduled music failed to beplayed (e.g., an empty playlist, no connection to a share, failedUniversal Plug and Play (UPnP), no Internet connection for an InternetRadio station, and so on), a backup buzzer can be programmed to sound.The buzzer can include a sound file that is stored in a zone player, forexample.

V. Example Ad-Hoc Network

Certain particular examples are now provided in connection with FIG. 6to describe, for purposes of illustration, certain systems and methodsto provide and facilitate connection to a playback network. FIG. 6 showsthat there are three zone players 602, 604 and 606 and a controller 608that form a network branch that is also referred to as an Ad-Hoc network610. The network 610 may be wireless, wired, or a combination of wiredand wireless. In general, an Ad-Hoc (or “spontaneous”) network is alocal area network or other small network in which there is generally noone access point for all traffic. With an established Ad-Hoc network610, the devices 602, 604, 606 and 608 can all communicate with eachother in a “peer-to-peer” style of communication, for example.Furthermore, devices may come/and go from the network 610, and thenetwork 610 will automatically reconfigure itself without needing theuser to reconfigure the network 610. While an Ad-Hoc network isreferenced in FIG. 6, it is understood that a playback network may bebased on other types of networks as well.

Using the Ad-Hoc network 610, the devices 602, 604, 606, and 608 canshare or exchange one or more audio sources and be dynamically groupedto play the same or different audio sources. For example, the devices602 and 604 are grouped to playback one piece of music, and at the sametime, the device 606 plays back another piece of music. In other words,the devices 602, 604, 606 and 608, as shown in FIG. 6, form a HOUSEHOLDthat distributes audio and/or reproduces sound. As used herein, the termHOUSEHOLD (provided in uppercase letters to disambiguate from the user'sdomicile) is used to represent a collection of networked devices thatare cooperating to provide an application or service. An instance of aHOUSEHOLD is identified with a household 610 (or household identifier),though a HOUSEHOLD may be identified with a different area or place.

In certain embodiments, a household identifier (HHID) is a short stringor an identifier that is computer-generated to help ensure that it isunique. Accordingly, the network 610 can be characterized by a uniqueHHID and a unique set of configuration variables or parameters, such aschannels (e.g., respective frequency bands), SSID (a sequence ofalphanumeric characters as a name of a wireless network), and WEP keys(wired equivalent privacy or other security keys). In certainembodiments, SSID is set to be the same as HHID.

In certain embodiments, each HOUSEHOLD includes two types of networknodes: a control point (CP) and a zone player (ZP). The control pointcontrols an overall network setup process and sequencing, including anautomatic generation of required network parameters (e.g., WEP keys). Inan embodiment, the CP also provides the user with a HOUSEHOLDconfiguration user interface. The CP function can be provided by acomputer running a CP application module, or by a handheld controller(e.g., the controller 308) also running a CP application module, forexample. The zone player is any other device on the network that isplaced to participate in the automatic configuration process. The ZP, asa notation used herein, includes the controller 308 or a computingdevice, for example. In some embodiments, the functionality, or certainparts of the functionality, in both the CP and the ZP are combined at asingle node (e.g., a ZP contains a CP or vice-versa).

In certain embodiments, configuration of a HOUSEHOLD involves multipleCPs and ZPs that rendezvous and establish a known configuration suchthat they can use a standard networking protocol (e.g., IP over Wired orWireless Ethernet) for communication. In an embodiment, two types ofnetworks/protocols are employed: Ethernet 802.3 and Wireless 802.11g.Interconnections between a CP and a ZP can use either of thenetworks/protocols. A device in the system as a member of a HOUSEHOLDcan connect to both networks simultaneously.

In an environment that has both networks in use, it is assumed that atleast one device in a system is connected to both as a bridging device,thus providing bridging services between wired/wireless networks forothers. The zone player 606 in FIG. 6 is shown to be connected to bothnetworks, for example. The connectivity to the network 612 is based onEthernet and/or Wireless, while the connectivity to other devices 602,604 and 608 is based on Wireless and Ethernet if so desired.

It is understood, however, that in some embodiments each zone player606, 604, 602 may access the Internet when retrieving media from thecloud (e.g., Internet) via the bridging device. For example, zone player602 may contain a uniform resource locator (URL) that specifies anaddress to a particular audio track in the cloud. Using the URL, thezone player 602 may retrieve the audio track from the cloud, andultimately play the audio out of one or more zone players.

VI. Example System Configuration

FIG. 7 shows a system including a plurality of networks including acloud-based network and at least one local playback network. A localplayback network includes a plurality of playback devices or players,though it is understood that the playback network may contain only oneplayback device. In certain embodiments, each player has an ability toretrieve its content for playback. Control and content retrieval can bedistributed or centralized, for example. Input can include streamingcontent provider input, third party application input, mobile deviceinput, user input, and/or other playback network input into the cloudfor local distribution and playback.

As illustrated by the example system 700 of FIG. 7, a plurality ofcontent providers 720-750 can be connected to one or more local playbacknetworks 760-770 via a cloud and/or other network 710. Using the cloud710, a multimedia playback system 720 (e.g., Sonos™), a mobile device730, a third party application 740, a content provider 750 and so on canprovide multimedia content (requested or otherwise) to local playbacknetworks 760, 770. Within each local playback network 760, 770, acontroller 762, 772 and a playback device 764, 774 can be used toplayback audio content.

VII. Smart Audio Settings

In an example system such as the one shown in FIG. 1, 6 or 7, where aSONOS system, for example, including one or more playback devices andone or more controllers, is connected together in a local area network(LAN), the ability to warn a user if he or she is adjusting the audiosettings on a playback device while listening to a song with “atypical”spectral content may be valuable. Further, it may be valuable to createan “audio profile,” assign audio settings to a playback devicecorresponding to the “audio profile,” and automatically adjust the audiosettings of a playback device based on the “audio profile.” The “audioprofile” may be determined based on a number of factors, such asdescribed below. Replicating audio settings or changes to audio settingsto similar playback devices on a playback network may also be valuable.

A. Players and Grouped Players

In the example system, audio playback is done using one or more playbackdevices, also referred to as players or zone players. In someembodiments, the example system includes the capability to groupmultiple players together to play audio in a synchronized fashion suchthat all of the players play back audio from an (e.g., identical) audiosource or a list of audio sources in a synchronized manner such that no(or substantially no) audible delays or hiccups can be heard. Examplesof grouped players include a zone group (when two or more zones aregrouped), zone scenes (when a zone or zone group is formed based upon atrigger), bonded zone (often further distinguished as a zone having twoor more players, a “paired player,” or “consolidated player”), and soon. In certain embodiments, players can be grouped and ungroupeddynamically, preferably through a control interface, such as a wirelesscontroller, and not be physically connecting and re-connecting speakerwire, for example, to individual, discrete speakers to create differentgroupings. Grouped players can be further be grouped with other playersand or zone groups to create yet another (i.e., nested) group ofplayers.

In some embodiments, when a group of players is created or when a playeris added to a zone group, such as by user command(s) input through acontroller, the player(s) of the grouped zone can each store an updatedstate variable that indicates the players that are included in thegrouped zone. In some embodiments, a player knows it is in a zone groupbased on the state variable stored in memory at the player, for example.In some embodiments, the controller(s) in the system identify a playeris in a grouped zone by querying a player in the grouped zone for thestate variable. The controllers may use this information to display on adisplay screen that a player is grouped in a zone. In other embodiments,the state variable is stored at a master player, in the controller, orsome other accessible location.

B. Audio Settings

In some embodiments, audio settings on a playback device can be adjustedto customize the listening experience through a particular playbackdevice. For example, the “bass” setting can be used to adjust the lowfrequency emphasis (gain) of the audio playback. The low frequencyadjustments can apply to frequencies below a cutoff frequency and canfollow, for example, a logarithmic response such as +/−0.5 dBincrements, where unaltered audio may be set to 0 dB. In anotherexample, the “treble” setting can be used to adjust the high frequencyemphasis (gain) of the audio playback. Similar to the bass adjustments,the high frequency adjustments can apply to frequencies above a cutofffrequency and can follow, for example, a logarithmic response. Inanother example, the “balance” can be used to adjust the emphasisbetween the left and right channel, when two-channel audio is played.The balance adjustments can follow, for example, a linear or non-linear(e.g., logarithmic) response such that increasing the balance cancorrespond to more emphasis on the left channel, and decreasing thebalance can correspond to more emphasis on the right channel. In yetanother example, the “loudness” setting can be used to adjust the audioemphasis across the frequency range to account for human auditory systemresponse as loudness changes. Other examples of audio settings may beconsidered.

In the example system, audio settings can apply to a single player ormultiple players in a system. In one example, the audio settings canapply to a group of players that are joined together to play audio in asynchronized fashion (e.g., zone group, zone scene, bonded zone, and soon). In one embodiment, the audio settings for the players in a groupare determined by replicating the audio settings from a single player toother players in the group. This may happen, for example, when the groupis formed, when a new player is added to the group, and/or if thesettings change on the player over time. For example, if the bass audiosetting is adjusted on a first player such that the bass emphasis isincreased by 1 dB, then the same increase (e.g., 1 dB) is replicated onall players (or a subset of players) in the group. In some embodiments,the audio settings are only replicated on similar players in the group.For example, audio settings on a SONOS™ PLAY:3 device may be replicatedon other PLAY:3 devices and not on SONOS™ CONNECT devices.

In another example, the audio settings can apply to multiple players ina system even if the players are not grouped together to play audio insynchronized fashion. In one example embodiment, the audio settings fora player are replicated to all players (or a subset of players) in thesystem. This may be done to minimize user configuration when setting upand/or changing the audio settings in a multi-player system. Forexample, if the audio settings are adjusted on a PLAY:3 device in aplayback network, then the audio settings can be automaticallyreplicated to all PLAY:3 devices on the playback network.

In another embodiment, the audio settings applied to multiple playbackdevices are determined by a combination of replicating audio settingsand setting individual settings. For example, the audio settings of aplayer may be replicated on similar players in the group, and differentplayers may set their audio settings differently. For example, if a zonegroup consists of two PLAY:3 devices and one CONNECT device, then theaudio settings from one PLAY:3 device could be replicated to the secondPLAY:3 device but not the CONNECT device. In another example, if ahousehold consists of multiple PLAY:3 devices, then the audio settingsfrom one PLAY:3 device could be replicated on some of the PLAY:3devices, but not all. This may be desirable because of the acousticdifferences among different listening zones in the household.

C. Data Processing

Audio equalization can be done using signal processing algorithms (e.g.,digital signal processing or DSP algorithms) using a general-purposeprocessor or a dedicated audio processing module (e.g., DSP chip oraudio codec with processing capabilities).

In one embodiment, the full audio stream is sent to each player of agrouped zone (e.g., zone group, zone scene, bonded zone), and eachplayer is then responsible for its own signal processing based on thechannel and/or audio equalization they are responsible to play. Forexample, in a 2.1 configuration where two full-frequency players aregrouped with a subwoofer, each player may receive the full frequencyspectrum audio stream and remove (i.e., filter out) the audio frequencyspectrum (above or below the crossover) that they are not responsible toplay. In this example configuration, the audio settings (e.g., bass,treble, balance, loudness, and so on) can be set at each player of thegrouped zone, and each player adjusts the audio playback accordingly.

In another embodiment, one player (e.g., primary player) performs thesignal processing, and sends to each secondary device, the (e.g.,filtered) audio they are responsible to play. Following the aboveexample of a 2.1 configuration, where now the left full-frequency playeris the primary player and is responsible to receive the full audiostream and separate the left and right channels as well as thelow-frequency audio for playback by the secondary players (e.g., theright full-frequency player and the subwoofer). The primary player sendsthe right channel audio to the right full-frequency player for playback,and the low frequency audio to the subwoofer for playback. In thisexample configuration, the audio settings (e.g., bass, treble, balance,loudness, and so on) can be adjusted at the primary player and theadjusted audio signals are sent to the secondary players.

In yet another example embodiment, a combination of the two modelsmentioned above can be implemented. For example, the primary player doessome preliminary signal processing before sending to each secondaryplayer, the (e.g., filtered) audio they are responsible to play. Oncethe secondary player receives the audio, it completes the audioprocessing for playback. For example, the primary player may send theright channel audio to the right full-frequency player for playback, andthe low frequency audio to the subwoofer for playback, but may rely onthe secondary players to set the audio settings.

D. Audio Profiles

In some embodiments, an audio profile is determined by examining thespectral content of audio (e.g., music track). For example, an audioprofile can be determined by examining the amount of content in eachfrequency band such that the combined frequency bands provide continuouscoverage over the audible frequency range. For example, the frequencyrange of 20 Hz-20,000 Hz may be divided up as follows: band 1=20 Hz-150Hz; band 2=150 Hz-2000 Hz; band 3=2000 Hz-5,000 Hz; band 4=5,000Hz-12,000 Hz; and band 5=12,000 Hz-20,000 Hz. In some embodiments, anaudio profile can be created for an individual song or track, or a groupor collection of songs or tracks. For example, an audio profile can becreated for the U2 song Elevation and/or all of the songs on the U2album All That You Can't Leave Behind.

In one example embodiment, an audio profile is created by partitioning asong or track into time intervals, where each interval corresponds to,for example, an equal period of time. In one example, the song or trackis partitioned into 10 sec. intervals. The partitioning of the song ortrack can be done, for example, “one the fly” (e.g., for streamingaudio), or it can be done by retrieving the song or track, or portionsthereof, for analysis. Once the song or track is partitioned intointervals, the Fourier Transform is done on the audio partition todetermine the frequency content (magnitude and frequency) of the audiofor that partition. The frequency content can be further aggregated intofrequency bands corresponding to frequencies of interest, and therelative content per frequency band can be calculated. For example, thefrequency content may be collected into the 5 frequency bands shownabove. Furthermore the percent content per bin can be determined. Forexample, 20% in band 1, 30% in band 2, 35% in band 3, 10% in band 4, and5% in band 5. The audio profile for each song can be determined, forexample, by summing the results for each interval to create an aggregateresult for the entire song. Similarly, the audio profile for acollection of songs can be determined, for example, by summing theresults for each song to create an aggregate result for the collectionof songs. Note that this is just one example of how an audio profile canbe created, and many other methods can be used to create an audioprofile.

In some embodiments, an audio profile is determined by examining other(or additional) attributes of audio. These attributes can be combinedusing algorithms to determine an audio profile. For example, an audioprofile can be determined using the attributes and algorithms used by,for example, PANDORA™.

As suggested above, an audio profile can be created for a group orcollection of songs or tracks. In some embodiments, an audio profile iscreated for a user of the example audio system such that the profile isgenerated using, for example, the songs or tracks in the user's musiclibrary, songs or tracks that are streamed by the user from an onlineaudio service, and so on. In some embodiments, an audio profile iscreated per genre for a user of the example audio system. The genre maybe determined, for example, by the metadata tags of the songs or tracks.For example, an audio profile can be created for each of the “Reggae,”“Hip-Hop,” and “Pop” genres. In some embodiments, an audio profile iscreated over an interval of use (e.g., time interval, recently playedsongs or tracks, and so on). For example, an audio profile may bedetermined based on the content that is played over the last ten (10)days, or possibly the last fifty (50) tracks that were played. In someembodiments, an audio profile is created for a combination of the aboveconfigurations. Other examples follow.

Audio profiles can be generated to determine a “representative” profile.A “representative” profile may apply, for example, to a specific useracross all (or substantially all) of their music, to a system across all(or substantially all) music that is played over the system (a systemmay include a subset of players or all of the players on a playbacknetwork), to a specific player or zone, to a genre for a single user ora collection of users, and so on. For example, a “representative”profile for “Reggae” music in Jonathan's library can be determined byaveraging the audio profiles over all of the songs in Jonathan's musiclibrary that are classified as part of the “Reggae” genre. Similarly,for example, a “representative” profile for a user can be determined byaveraging the audio profiles over the user's library. As will bediscussed below, the “representative” profile can be used to apply smartaudio settings, and even determine when a song is played that does notfollow the “representative” profile, such that a user is warned if theytry to adjust the audio settings for a player while such a song isplayed.

In some example embodiments, a user using a user interface (UI) mayconfigure what a profile is representative of. For example, the user maybe given a selection of genres representing their music library. Theuser may, for example, determine that audio profiles are representativeof individual genres (e.g., Rock, Reggae, Hip-Hop, and so on), a groupof genres (e.g., music genres, spoken word genres, and so on), or all ofthe combined genres (e.g., all the audio content). In another example,the user may be given a selection of audio sources available on theirplayback network. The user may, for example, determine the audioprofiles are representative of local music, streaming internet radio,local TV/Video, and so on.

E. Smart Audio Settings

In an example system, audio profiles are used to provide smart audiosettings for a playback device or group of playback devices in aplayback system. In some embodiments, smart audio settings are used whenusers initiate an audio settings adjustment on a playback device. Forexample, if a user initiates an audio setting adjustment via acontroller (such as controllers 300, 500 in FIGS. 3 and 5, respectively)and/or a playback device (for example, a playback device with userinterface (UI) control), a system module uses audio profiles todetermine if the setting is being adjusted based on a “representative”song or track; and if not, a system module advises the user accordingly.The system modules can be part of the controller, the playback device,and/or another device on the LAN or in the “cloud.” In some embodiments,smart audio settings are used to automatically adjust the audio settingswithout user input. For example, the system can automatically adjust theaudio settings for a song or track, based on the audio profile of thatsong or track and the associated audio settings.

User-Initiated Audio Setting Adjustment

In some embodiments a user adjusts the audio settings based on thecurrent song or track they are listening to, and these settings areapplied to all music played over the playback device(s). In otherembodiments, these settings are applied only to similar music that isplayed over the playback device(s).

In some embodiments, “representative profiles” are used to determine ifa setting adjustment is being made based on a “representative” song ortrack. In one example embodiment, an audio profile is determined for thecurrent song or track and compared to the “representative profile” todetermine if the current song is similar (or substantially similar) tothe “representative” song or track. In some instances, the“representative profile” is based on songs or tracks from the samegenre, while in other instances, the “representative profile” is basedon the entire music collection, and so on.

In an example embodiment, if the audio profile of the current song ortrack is determined to be similar (or substantially similar) to the“representative profile,” then the audio adjustment proceeds normallyand the settings are adjusted on the player(s). If, however, the audioprofile of the current song or track is determined to be “atypical,”(e.g., does not fit the “representative profile”) then the user isadvised accordingly, for example. In one example, this is done via amessage displayed on a display screen of a controller (e.g., thecontroller 500). In an embodiment, the message is generated at theplayback device and is sent over a network from the playback device tothe controller, where the message is displayed to the user.

In some embodiments a system starts with no “representative profiles”(or one or a few “representative profiles”), and builds “representativeprofiles” based on analyzing audio in the system (e.g., the audio on thelocal music library, the audio from streaming services or Internetradio, and so on). As “representative profiles” are built, the audio isclassified by “representative profile” and audio settings adjustmentscan be applied to each “representative profile”. As new songs areanalyzed, they are grouped into an existing “representative profile” ifthey are similar (or substantially similar). If, however, the new songdoes not fit into an existing “representative profile”, a new“representative profile” is created. The newly created “representativeprofile” may be stored in memory on any of a playback device, acontroller, and another network connected device.

In one example of smart audio settings for user-initiated audio settingadjustment, a user decides to increase the bass setting on a playbackdevice while listening to a song that has very little low-frequencyaudio content. In this example, the system is configured with a“representative profile” that is based on the music in the user's localmusic library. As the user adjusts the bass on the audio setting, amodule on the playback device, for example, determines an audio profileof the song (if an audio profile has not already been determined; whichmay be tagged to the song as metadata). The audio profile of the song iscompared to the “representative profile” to determine if the song has anaudio profile that is representative of the user's music. In thisexample, the audio profile of the song is not representative of theuser's music. In one embodiment, a notification or warning is given tothe user that the song currently being played has an atypical amount ofbass content in it compared to the music in the user's library. Inanother embodiment, the user is given the choice if they want tocontinue to adjust the bass settings for the player. In yet anotherembodiment, the user is given the choice if they want to save the newsetting to the “representative profile.”

Automatic Audio Setting Adjustment

In an example embodiment, “representative profiles” are used toautomatically adjust the audio settings based on the audio profile ofthe song or track being played. In one example, the “representativeprofiles” are assigned the genre. For example, once the genre of thesong or track is identified (e.g., using the associated metadata for thesong or track), the audio settings corresponding to that genre (ifavailable) are used to adjust the settings of the playback device. Inone example, the audio settings can be determined for each genre by theuser adjusting the settings based on listening to songs from that genre.In another example, the audio settings can be determined for each genreby the user adjusting the settings based on listening to a“representative” song from that genre. The “representative” song may befrom the user's music library (e.g., local library or cloud-basedlibrary), or the song may be stored on a cloud server (e.g., the Sonoscloud server 720 in FIG. 7) and provided to the local playback networkfor calibration purposes. In another example, the audio settings can bedetermined for each genre remotely and provided to the local playbacknetwork. For example, a cloud server (e.g., the Sonos server 720 in FIG.7) may determine default audio settings for each playback device andgenre combination, and provide this information to the local network toapply to the playback devices.

However, the genre of a song or track may be determined by severalfactors, not necessarily including the frequency content. This can beaddressed by creating a “representative profile” database over acollection of songs or tracks. In an embodiment, the “representativeprofile” database can be stored on a cloud server (e.g., the Sonosserver 720 in FIG. 7), and provided to the local network to apply to theplayback devices. The “representative profile” database can becontinually updated by the devices in the local networks as they profilethe audio that is played. Further, the audio settings for each“representative profile” can also be collected, aggregated, and storedby a cloud server. It may also be valuable to capture the amount oftimes the audio settings are changed on a local playback device for each“representative profile”. This can indicate the confidence or stabilityof the audio settings for such a “representative profile”.

F. Example Smart Audio Settings Method

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram 800 of an example method to implementsmart audio settings in a media playback system. At block 802, a useradjusts the audio settings of a playback device. For example, the userusing a user interface on a controller 500 or zone player 400 may adjustthe bass, treble, balance, loudness, and so on of a playback device, forexample, while listening to a song or track over the playback device.Note that the audio setting adjustment may apply to a single playbackdevice or a group of playback devices, and it is not required that audiobe simultaneously (or substantially simultaneously) played while anaudio setting is adjusted.

At block 804 a module determines if the playback device is currentlyplaying audio. If the playback device is currently not playing audio,the audio setting is applied in block 812.

If the playback device is currently playing audio, then the audioprofile is determined in block 806 for the currently playing audio.

At block 808, a module (e.g., a software/hardware module on a controller500, on a playback device 400, and so on) compares the audio profile ofthe currently playing audio with a “representative profile.” If theaudio profile of the currently playing audio is similar (orsubstantially similar) to the “representative profile,” then the audiosetting is applied in block 812. Following the above example where anaudio profile is determined by the percent spectral content in each ofthe five bins, the percent content per bin of the “representativeprofile” could be, for example, bin 1: 19-23%, bin 2: 28-33%, bin 3:33-38%, bin 4: 8-13%, and bin 5: 2-8%. As long as the percent contentper bin of the audio profile of the currently playing audio is withinthese percentages for each bin, for example, it is considered similar tothe “representative profile.”

If the audio profile of the currently playing audio is atypical, or notsimilar (or not substantially similar) to the “representative” audioprofile, then an indication (e.g., warning message) is provided to theuser in block 810 indicating the audio settings are being adjusted basedon a song that is not representative of audio matching the profile. Inblock 812 the audio setting is applied.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow diagram 900 of an example method to implementsmart audio settings in a media playback system where the systemprovides suggested settings based on the “representative profile.” Atblock 902, a user adjusts the audio settings of a playback device. Forexample, the user using a user interface on a controller 500 or zoneplayer 400 may adjust the bass, treble, balance, loudness, and so on ofa playback device, for example, while listening to a song or track overthe playback device. Note that the audio setting adjustment may apply toa single playback device or a group of playback devices, and it is notrequired that audio be simultaneously (or substantially simultaneously)played while an audio setting is adjusted.

At block 904 a module determines if the playback device is currentlyplaying audio. If the playback device is currently not playing audio,the audio setting is applied in block 914.

If the playback device is currently playing audio, then the audioprofile is determined in block 906 for the currently playing audio.

At block 908, a module (e.g., a software/hardware module on a controller500, on a playback device 400, and so on) compares the audio profile ofthe currently playing audio with a “representative profile.” If theaudio profile of the currently playing audio is similar (orsubstantially similar) to the “representative profile,” then the audiosetting is applied in block 914.

If the audio profile of the currently playing audio is atypical, or notsimilar (or not substantially similar) to the “representative” audioprofile, then an indication (e.g., warning message) is provided to theuser in block 910 indicating the audio settings are being adjusted basedon a song that is not representative of audio matching the profile. Asuggested audio setting is provided in block 912 based on the“representative profile”. The suggested audio setting may be, forexample, a setting that takes into account additional information (e.g.,user, playback device, group configuration, and so on).

In block 914 the audio setting is applied. The audio setting may be, forexample, the setting applied by the user or the suggested settingprovided in block 912.

FIG. 10 illustrates a flow diagram 1000 of an example method toimplement smart audio settings in a media playback system where theaudio settings are applied to other players in the playback system. Inblock 1002, an audio setting is applied to a playback device (e.g.,playback device 400). In block 1004, a module (e.g., a software/hardwaremodule on a controller 500, on a playback device 400, and so on)determines if the audio settings should be applied to other playbackdevices in the playback system. If the audio settings are to be appliedto other playback devices in the playback network, then the settings arepropagated and applied to the other devices. For example, if the audiosettings are adjusted on a PLAY:3 device in a playback network, then theaudio settings can be automatically replicated to all PLAY:3 devices onthe playback network.

FIG. 11 illustrates a flow diagram 1100 of an example method toimplement smart audio settings in a media playback system where theaudio settings are automatically applied based on the audio profile ofthe song. In block 1102, the song to be played is retrieved. The songcan be retrieved, for example, as a streaming file (e.g., Internetstreaming audio) or it can be retrieved in portions or chunks. In block1104, an audio profile is determined for the song. In block 1108, amodule (e.g., a software/hardware module on a controller 500, on aplayback device 400, and so on) compares the audio profile of thecurrently playing audio with a “representative profile.” If the audioprofile of the currently playing audio is similar (or substantiallysimilar) to the “representative profile,” then the audio setting isapplied in block 1108 for the song. If the audio profile of thecurrently playing audio is atypical, or not similar (or notsubstantially similar) to the “representative” audio profile, then theaudio profile is not automatically altered for the song.

VIII. Conclusion

In some embodiments, a first module determines an audio profile for aplurality of songs; a second module receives a user command to adjustthe audio settings during playback of a song; a third module determineswhether the currently playing song fits the audio profile; and if thesong does not fit the audio profile, a fourth module provides anindication to the user prior to storing the audio setting adjustment.

In some embodiments, the modules reside in a playback device, acontroller, a network enabled device on the local area network (LAN) orin the “cloud”, or some combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the audio profile is based on the plurality ofsongs played over a time. In some embodiments, the audio profile isbased on a genre. In some embodiments, the audio profile is based onaudio played by a particular zone or group of zones.

In some embodiments the audio setting corresponding to a profile isstored.

In some embodiments, a determination is made that the song fits an audioprofile and automatically adjusts the audio settings on a playbackdevice based on the audio profile. In some embodiments, a determinationis made that the song fits a different audio profile and automaticallyadjusts the audio settings on a playback device based on the differentaudio profile.

In some embodiments a first module receives a user command to adjustaudio settings on a playback device; a second module determines if theaudio settings are to be applied to other playback devices; and a thirdmodule propagates the audio settings to other playback devices.

The description discloses various example systems, methods, apparatus,and articles of manufacture including, among other components, firmwareand/or software executed on hardware. However, such examples are merelyillustrative and should not be considered as limiting. For example, itis contemplated that any or all of these firmware, hardware, and/orsoftware components can be embodied exclusively in hardware, exclusivelyin software, exclusively in firmware, or in any combination of hardware,software, and/or firmware. Accordingly, while the following describesexample systems, methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture, theexamples provided are not the only way(s) to implement such systems,methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture.

Additionally, reference herein to “embodiment” means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment can be included in at least one example embodiment of theinvention. The appearances of this phrase in various places in thespecification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment,nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of otherembodiments. As such, the embodiments described herein, explicitly andimplicitly understood by one skilled in the art, can be combined withother embodiments.

The specification is presented largely in terms of illustrativeenvironments, systems, procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, andother symbolic representations that directly or indirectly resemble theoperations of data processing devices coupled to networks. These processdescriptions and representations are typically used by those skilled inthe art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to othersskilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth to provide athorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it isunderstood to those skilled in the art that certain embodiments of thepresent disclosure can be practiced without certain, specific details.In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, andcircuitry have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarilyobscuring aspects of the embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of thepresent disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than theforgoing description of embodiments.

When any of the appended claims are read to cover a purely softwareand/or firmware implementation, at least one of the elements in at leastone example is hereby expressly defined to include a tangible mediumsuch as a memory, DVD, CD, Blu-ray, and so on, storing the softwareand/or firmware.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A computing system comprising: one or moreprocessors; and at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readablemedium; program instructions stored on the at least one tangible,non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the oneor more processors such that the computing system is configured to:while a first playback device is playing a first audio track accordingto a first audio playback configuration corresponding to a first audioprofile, determine for a second audio track queued for playback afterthe first audio track, whether the first playback device should play thesecond audio track according to the first audio playback configurationcorresponding to the first audio profile; and in response to determiningthat the first playback device should not play the second audio trackaccording to the first audio playback configuration corresponding to thefirst audio profile, cause the first playback device to play the secondaudio track according to a second audio playback configuration.
 2. Thecomputing system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions that areexecutable by one or more processors such that the computing system isconfigured to cause the first playback device to play the second audiotrack according the second audio playback configuration comprisesprogram instructions that are executable by one or more processors suchthat the computing system is configured to send the second audioplayback configuration to the first playback device.
 3. The computingsystem of claim 1, wherein the first audio playback configurationcomprises one or more equalization settings for audio playback, andwherein the second audio playback configuration comprises one or moreequalization settings for audio playback different from the one or moreequalization settings of the first audio playback configuration.
 4. Thecomputing system of claim 1, wherein the first audio profile correspondsto a first genre of audio content, and wherein the program instructionsthat are executable by one or more processors such that the computingsystem is configured to determine for the second audio track queued forplayback after the first audio track, whether the first playback deviceshould play the second audio track according to the first audio playbackconfiguration corresponding to the first audio profile comprises programinstructions that are executable by one or more processors such that thecomputing system is configured to determine whether a genrecorresponding to the second audio track is different from the firstgenre of audio content.
 5. The computing system of claim 1, wherein thefirst audio profile corresponds to portions of spectral content of anaudio track falling within each of two or more frequency bands, andwherein the program instructions that are executable by one or moreprocessors such that the computing system is configured to determine forthe second audio track queued for playback after the first audio track,whether the first playback device should play the second audio trackaccording to the first audio playback configuration corresponding to thefirst audio profile comprises program instructions that are executableby one or more processors such that the computing system is configuredto determine whether portions of spectral content of the second audiotrack falling within each of the two or more frequency bands exceed theportions of spectral content falling within each of the two or morefrequency bands for the first audio profile by a threshold amount. 6.The computing system of claim 1, wherein the first audio profilecorresponds to a representative audio profile based on a spectralanalysis of a set of audio tracks, and wherein the program instructionsthat are executable by one or more processors such that the computingsystem is configured to determine for the second audio track queued forplayback after the first audio track, whether the first playback deviceshould play the second audio track according to the first audio playbackconfiguration corresponding to the first audio profile comprises programinstructions that are executable by one or more processors such that thecomputing system is configured to determine whether a distribution ofspectral content among a set of two or more frequency ranges for thesecond audio track is within a threshold range of the distribution ofspectral content among the set of two or more frequency ranges for therepresentative audio profile.
 7. The computing system of claim 6,wherein the set of audio tracks comprises audio tracks that the firstplayback device has played within a set duration of time.
 8. Thecomputing system of claim 6, wherein the set of audio tracks comprisesaudio tracks of a particular genre of audio content.
 9. The computingsystem of claim 7, wherein the set of audio tracks comprises audiotracks stored in a library of audio tracks associated with a particularlistener.
 10. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the computingsystem is configured to communicate with the first playback device viaan Internet connection.
 11. A method performed by a computing system,the method comprising: while a first playback device is playing a firstaudio track according to a first audio playback configurationcorresponding to a first audio profile, determining for a second audiotrack queued for playback after the first audio track, whether the firstplayback device should play the second audio track according to thefirst audio playback configuration corresponding to the first audioprofile; and in response to determining that the first playback deviceshould not play the second audio track according to the first audioplayback configuration corresponding to the first audio profile, causingthe first playback device to play the second audio track according to asecond audio playback configuration.
 12. The method of claim 11, whereincausing the first playback device to play the second audio trackaccording the second audio playback configuration comprises sending thesecond audio playback configuration to the first playback device. 13.The method of claim 11, wherein the first audio playback configurationcomprises one or more equalization settings for audio playback, andwherein the second audio playback configuration comprises one or moreequalization settings for audio playback different from the one or moreequalization settings of the first audio playback configuration.
 14. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the first audio profile corresponds to afirst genre of audio content, and wherein determining for the secondaudio track queued for playback after the first audio track, whether thefirst playback device should play the second audio track according tothe first audio playback configuration corresponding to the first audioprofile comprises determining whether a genre corresponding to thesecond audio track is different from the first genre of audio content.15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first audio profile correspondsto portions of spectral content of an audio track falling within each oftwo or more frequency bands, and wherein determining for the secondaudio track queued for playback after the first audio track, whether thefirst playback device should play the second audio track according tothe first audio playback configuration corresponding to the first audioprofile comprises determining whether portions of spectral content ofthe second audio track falling within each of the two or more frequencybands exceed the portions of spectral content falling within each of thetwo or more frequency bands for the first audio profile by a thresholdamount.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the first audio profilecorresponds to a representative audio profile based on a spectralanalysis of a set of audio tracks, and wherein determining for thesecond audio track queued for playback after the first audio track,whether the first playback device should play the second audio trackaccording to the first audio playback configuration corresponding to thefirst audio profile comprises determining whether a distribution ofspectral content among a set of two or more frequency ranges for thesecond audio track is within a threshold range of the distribution ofspectral content among the set of two or more frequency ranges for therepresentative audio profile.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein theset of audio tracks comprises audio tracks that the first playbackdevice has played within a set duration of time.
 18. The method of claim16, wherein the set of audio tracks comprises audio tracks of aparticular genre of audio content.
 19. The method of claim 17, whereinthe set of audio tracks comprises audio tracks stored in a library ofaudio tracks associated with a particular listener.
 20. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the computing system is configured to communicate withthe first playback device via an Internet connection.